The UK government has written to 365,000 UK nationals living in Europe with advice on the actions they need to take to prepare for the end of the UK transition period on December 31. This includes around 12,000 of these letters issued in Portugal.
The letters, sent to UK state pensioners and benefit recipients, give advice on how to register for residency and healthcare, exchange driving licences and check new passport validity rules online.
It is one of the largest-ever mail outs by the UK government to UK nationals living in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The UK government has been running a public information campaign featuring online, radio and newspaper adverts across 30 countries informing UK nationals of the actions they need to take.
This is in addition to the hundreds of town hall meetings, street surgeries and online Q&As run by the UK’s Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates across Europe.
The UK government has also allocated £3 million for charities and voluntary organisations across Europe to assist UK nationals that may need additional help to register or apply, to protect their residency rights. This includes potentially at-risk groups, such as pensioners and disabled people and those living in remote areas or who have mobility difficulties.
Beneficiaries in Portugal include the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) that is collaborating with the Embassy to support those UK nationals in Portugal and their families’ members to complete their residency applications.
UK nationals can find the most up to date information on actions they may need to take in the ‘Living in Portugal Guide’.
